Flood warning issued for Ottawa River
Posted Apr 17, 2023 06:48:22 PM.
Water levels are forecast to rise by up to a metre this week on the Ottawa River, prompting a flood warning for areas between Arnprior and Hawkesbury.
The Ottawa River Regulating Committee expects water levels will exceed major flood levels, but will stay well below historic high flood levels.
The river is expected to rise by a metre from Monday morning’s levels over the next two to three days, in areas east of Cumberland Village and in Rockland, while water levels are forecast to rise by half a metre in the Britannia area.
The region’s conservation authorities say the rising water is because warm weather is melting above-average snowpack, in areas with no reservoir nor retention capacity.
The City of Ottawa’s been providing sand and sandbags at multiple locations in flood prone areas. The full list of locations is on the city’s website.
The city of Gatineau says its areas most at-risk include the Pointe Gatineau neighbourhood as well as areas along boulevard Hurtubise. The city says close to 40,000 sandbags have been filled and will be distributed tomorrow morning to seven sites in flood-prone areas, with crews in the process of filling up to 200,000 additional sandbags. More information can be found on the Ville de Gatineau website.
